VEGETABLE PATCH : Before 12h00 (UTC), the descending moon in a leaf phase rewards leafy crops with good vigour — a solid window before the shift. Transplant young lettuce (Lactuca sativa ‘Merveille des Quatre Saisons’, ‘Little Gem’) into prepared beds, spacing plants 25 cm apart and setting the root ball level with the soil surface / Sow Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla ‘Bright Lights’, ‘Fordhook Giant’) in drills 2 cm deep, rows 40 cm apart — chard’s large seeds germinate reliably and the leaf canopy suppresses weeds naturally / Set out young kale (Brassica oleracea ‘Nero di Toscana’, ‘Redbor’) plugs under fleece if nights stay below 8 °C, firming each plant carefully to avoid air pockets around the stem base / Direct-sow spinach (Spinacia oleracea ‘Matador’, ‘Medania’) in short rows 30 cm apart at 2 cm depth; thin to 10 cm once seedlings reach 5 cm — thinnings go straight to the kitchen. On heavy soils, raise beds by 5 cm and work in coarse grit to improve drainage for these leafy crops.
ORCHARD : After 12h00 (UTC), the moon shifts into a fruit phase — a welcome change for tree fruit and soft fruit work. Check developing fruitlets on pear (Pyrus communis ‘Conference’, ‘Williams’) and cherry (Prunus avium ‘Stella’, ‘Sunburst’) for signs of overcrowding; remove the weakest fruitlets in clusters of three or more, leaving the central one intact to develop fully / Tie in new lateral shoots on trained espalier apple (Malus domestica ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’, ‘Braeburn’) using soft twine at 45°, keeping the framework open to light and air / Water newly planted strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa ‘Elsanta’, ‘Honeoye’) runners at the base — 1 litre per plant, avoiding wetting the crown, which can encourage grey mould / In Mediterranean climates or sheltered south-facing walls, begin thinning fig (Ficus carica) embryo fruits, removing those smaller than a grape to concentrate the tree’s energy into the remaining crop.
INDOORS : A quick check on seedlings under glass pays off at this stage of spring. Pot on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Sungold’, ‘Gardener’s Delight’) and pepper (Capsicum annuum ‘Sweet Banana’, ‘Lipstick’) seedlings into 9 cm pots using a peat-free, well-drained compost — roots reaching the base of the tray are a clear sign they need more room / Increase ventilation on warm afternoons to harden off aubergine (Solanum melongena ‘Moneymaker’) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus ‘Marketmore’) trays gradually; a 5 cm gap in the frame lid is enough to acclimatise without chilling.